Ion and/or ozone producing hair setting assembly

ABSTRACT

There is provided a hair setting assembly having a housing with one or more heating elements. The elements cooperate with one or more heatable hair rollers. The hair setting assembly also has one or more ion and/or ozone emitters for emitting ions and/or ozone. Further, the hair setting assembly has a housing with a lid portion, and a base portion for selectively covering the heatable hair rollers and the one or more ion and/or ozone emitters, and a support connectable to the housing so that the housing can be tilted about an axis in at least one direction through a specified angle while sitting on a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to personal care appliances. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to hair setting assembliesfor holding and heating hair rollers. Even more particularly, thepresent invention relates to a hair setting assembly that can generateor create a concentration of ions and/or ozone.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Hair setting assemblies for heating hair curlers are well known.Moreover, it is also well known to combine the beneficial effects ofionization with a variety of different hair care devices. See forexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,182,671, 5,957,090, 5,941,253, 5,150,491,4,797,966, 4,500,939, 3,997,817, and 3,892,247.

[0005] None of the above provide for a hair setting assembly that iscapable of adjustably producing ions/ozone of varying polarity,adjustably controlling the level of ion/ozone concentration, andadjustably manipulating the distribution and mix of ions/ozone with theadjacent atmosphere.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a hairsetting assembly for heating hair rollers used to curl hair.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide such ahair setting assembly that can produce a concentration of ions and/orozone.

[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to providesuch a hair setting assembly that is capable of producing ions/ozone ofvarying polarity as well as intensity.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hairsetting assembly with a tilt adjustable housing to facilitate access tothe heated rollers and to direct the ion concentration.

[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present inventionare achieved by a hair setting assembly of the present invention. Thehair setting assembly has a housing, one or more ion and/or ozoneemitters for emitting, simultaneously or alternatively, ions/ozone ofdifferent polarity. In addition, the hair setting assembly can have anyconfiguration and/or feature known to be associated with suchconventional devices. In particular, the housing of the assembly has asplit top cover or lid portion to improve thermal efficiency and enablea user to manipulate the level of ion concentration. Also, the assemblycan have a base or stand connectable with a base portion of the housingsuch that the housing can be tilted about an axis in a forward directionthrough a specified angle. This tilting action can facilitate access tothe heated rollers, can reduce the risk of a user being burned, and canenable the user to direct or control the extent of the ionconcentration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention is more fully understood by reference tothe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment incombination with the drawings identified below.

[0012]FIG. 1 is a front view of a hair setting assembly in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a first top view of the hair setting assembly of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a front section view of the hair setting assembly ofFIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a side section view of the hair setting assembly of FIG.1;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a side view of the hair setting assembly of FIG. 1,showing the housing in a tilted position;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a second top view of the hair setting assembly of FIG.1, showing an arrangement of different sized hair rollers; and

[0018]FIG. 7 is a side view of a hair curler for use in the hair settingassembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1, there isshown a hair setting assembly in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention generally represented by reference numeral 1.Hair setting assembly 1 preferably has a housing 5 with a base portion10, a cover portion 20 preferably pivotally connected to base portion10, a base or stand 30, one or more ion/ozone emitters 40 for emittingions and/or ozone, and/or one or more ion/ozone generators 50 forgenerating ions and/or ozone. Assembly 1 may also have one or moresupports 60 for supporting the one or more heatable rollers 65.

[0020] Housing 5 preferably encloses one or more heat conductive supportelements 60, shown clearly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, that can be connected toa power source. Preferably, one or more elements 60 are arranged ortilted on edge for direct engagement with rollers 65. Preferably, asshown in FIG. 7, rollers 65 are forked over the edges of the heatconductive supports. It is noted that other configurations andadaptations may also be used to accomplish the same purposes of thearrangement just described. For example, a single heating plate providedon its top surface with one or more heat conducting elements protrudingfrom the top surface for engagement with rollers 65 may also be used.Housing 5 can be compactly sized and/or shaped to facilitate bothportability and easy storage.

[0021] Preferably, cover portion 20 is divided into at least twosections, first section 21 and second section 23, to form a split toplid. Preferably, first section 21 is the same extent as second section23. Cover portion 20 may also be divided into three or more sections.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, first section 21 preferably is pivotallyconnected at a first edge 12 of base portion 10 by a first connector 13,and second section 23 preferably is pivotally connected at a second edge14 of base portion 10 by a second connector 15. Also, should coverportion 20 be divided into three or more sections, preferably eachadditional section would be similarly pivotally connected to a rear edge18 of base portion 10. Preferably, first section 21 and second section23 seal along a mid-line 16 that runs from a front edge 17 of baseportion 10 to rear edge 18. First connector 13 and second connector 15are preferably located at opposing ends of base portion 10. Should coverportion 20 include three or more sections, each of the three or moresections will preferably cooperate to cover selectively rollers 65and/or one or more emitters 40.

[0023] Thus, the split lid arrangement heretofore described allows forselective access to rollers 65, thereby facilitating thermal efficiency,as well as providing some degree of control over the extent of ionsemitted from the assembly.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, one or more ion/ozone emitters 40 canbe situated outside or in housing 5, or both in and outside of housing 5simultaneously. Preferably, one or more ion/ozone emitters are in acasing 45. Casing 45 can be either integral with housing 5 or removableto allow easy access to the one or more ion/ozone emitters 40 forcleaning and/or replacement thereof. This can be important as dust andother air particles or contaminates tend to collect on ion emitters 50and can thereby interfere with the ionization process.

[0025] Preferably, the one or more ion/ozone emitters 40 can have anyconfiguration suitable for emitting ions/ozone with selectively varyingpolarity and/or intensity, and to conform to the configuration andoperation of device 1. For example, one or more ion/ozone emitters 40can be in the form of a conductive needle, an array of such needles, aconductive plate, or any other like structure. Also, one or moreion/ozone emitters 40 can be formed from any material sufficient toeffectively emit ions and/or ozone and conform to the configuration andoperation of assembly 1, such as for example, a conductive metal, aconductive polymer, or a carbon material. Further, the one or moreion/ozone emitters 40 can be made of a conductive semi-fluid, such as asilicon gel. Still further, one or more ion/ozone emitters 40 preferablycreate(s) a concentration of ions having either a negative polarity or apositive polarity, or some combination thereof. The one or moreion/ozone emitters 40 can also preferably be arranged to create apredictable area of concentrated ions and/or ozone sufficient toencompass housing 5 and at least the area proximate the user and therebyfacilitate the exposure of ions and/or ozone to the hair and/or body ofthe user.

[0026] It is noted that exposing roller 60 has the benefit of reducingany static electricity associated with the hair of the user, as well asa beneficial cleansing effect thereon to reduce the build up of dust andother debris and thereby maintain the useful life thereof. It is alsonoted that should assembly 1 employ a steaming mechanism (not shown) forproviding a different styling effect, preferably one or more ion/ozoneemitters 40 is/are situated to allow for the infusion or introduction ofions and/or ozone into the mist or steam generated by the steamingmechanism.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment, one or more ion/ozone ion emitters40 can be electronically connected to one or more ion/ozone generators50. One or more ion/ozone generators 50 can be situated in the housing5, located outside of housing 5, or both in and outside of housing 5simultaneously. Also, one or more ion/ozone generators 50 can bepositioned at any location suitable to optimize the effective operationof assembly 1. The one or more ion/ozone generators 50 can be anysuitable device. It should be capable of adjustably generating voltageoutputs of varying intensity and/or polarity as well as differentcombinations thereof. Further, the one or more ion/ozone generators 50and the one or more ion/ozone emitters 40 can be configured for safety,as well as for protection from damage caused by extensive use.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, stand 30 preferably is connected to housing5 such that the housing can be tilted about an axis A in a direction D,through a predetermined angle. Axis A is the axis of the height orvertical extent of the hair setting assembly 1. This tilting actionfacilitates access to rollers 65, reduces the risk of a user beingburned, and enables the user to conveniently manipulate the direction ofsaid emitted ions and/or ozone. Preferably, base portion 10 of housing 5has a lower portion 31 that is shaped to rest snugly on stand 30.Preferably, lower portion 31 has at least one slidable connector thatcooperates with at least two abutments to control the distance throughwhich the connector can slide. Preferably, stand 30 has an upper surfacethat can receive and engage lower portion 31 via the slidable connector.Lower portion 31 and stand 30 can also provide a variety of differenttilt positions. For example, stand 30 could have at least one protrusionthat cooperates with one or more spring biased structures independentlylocated between the at least two abutments of the slidable connector, toprovide for the selective tilt positioning of housing 5 relative tostand 30.

[0029] Rollers 65, shown in FIG. 7, preferably have an inner casing orsurface 61 of conductive material and an outer casing or surface 63 ofnon-conductive material. The inner surface 61 facilitates heat transferfrom the conductive elements, as well as heat storage. Outer surface 63preferably optimizes the amount and effect of heat transferred from theconductive element to enhance the hair curling effect, to allow handlingby a user without the danger of burning the skin, and/or to provide avisible temperature indicator. This visible indication feature can beaccomplished using any of a variety of temperature sensitive materials.Alternatively, one or more of the one or more heatable rollers can havea heat sensitive sensor/indicator incorporated therein. Outer surface 63can be removable and/or replaceable. Outer surface 63 may also betextured or soft to facilitate gripping and/or handling.

[0030] As clearly shown in FIG. 1, each roller 40 preferably has anon-conductive cap 62 and a tab 64. Tab 64 is at least at one endthereof to facilitate handling and further reduce the likelihood of theskin being burned. It is noted that this end cap feature can have anyconfiguration suitable to facilitate comfortable handling of the variousrollers.

[0031] The present invention having been thus described with particularreference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious thatvarious changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair setting assembly comprising: a housinghaving one or more heating elements enclosed therein for cooperatingwith one or more heatable hair rollers; and one or more ion and/or ozoneemitters for emitting said ions and/or ozone.
 2. The hair settingassembly of claim 1, wherein said housing allows for selective access tosaid one or more heatable hair rollers.
 3. The hair setting assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said housing has a base portion and a lid portion. 4.The hair setting assembly of claim 3, wherein said lid portion has atleast two sections each individually connected to said base portion. 5.The hair setting assembly of claim 4, wherein said at least two sectionsare independently operative to selectively cover said one or moreheatable hair rollers and/or said one or more ion/ozone emitters.
 6. Thehair setting assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing is relativelycompact to facilitate both convenient portability and easy storage. 7.The hair setting assembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more heatablerollers have an inner conductive surface.
 8. The hair setting assemblyof claim 1, wherein said one or more heatable hair rollers have an outersurface of non-conductive material.
 9. The hair setting assembly ofclaim 8, wherein said outer surface provides a visible temperatureindicator.
 10. The hair setting assembly of claim 8, wherein said outersurface is formed from a temperature sensitive material.
 11. The hairsetting assembly of claim 8, wherein said outer surface is textured. 12.The hair setting assembly of claim 8, wherein said outer surface issoft.
 14. The hair setting assembly of claim 8, wherein said one outersurface is exposed to said ions and/or ozone.
 15. The hair settingassembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more ion and/or ozone emittersselectively produce ions and/or ozone of different polarity.
 16. Thehair setting assembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more ion and/orozone emitters provide a variety of voltage outputs.
 17. The hairsetting assembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more ion and/or ozoneemitters are formed from a conductive metal.
 18. The hair settingassembly of claim 1, wherein said one or more ion and/or ozone emittersare formed from a conductive polymer.
 19. The hair setting assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said one or more ion and/or ozone emitters are formedfrom a conductive silicon.
 20. The hair setting assembly of claim 1,wherein said one or more ion and/or ozone emitters form an array. 21.The hair setting assembly of claim 1, wherein said ions and/or ozonesatiate the atmosphere to expose the hair and/or body of a user to saidions and/or ozone.
 22. The hair setting assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid one or more ion and/or ozone emitters are positioned in a casingintegral with said housing.
 23. The hair setting assembly of claim 22,wherein said casing is selectively removable from said housing.
 24. Thehair setting assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more ionand/or ozone generators operatively connected with said one or more ionand/or ozone emitters for generating ions and/or ozone.
 25. The hairsetting assembly of claim 24, wherein said one or more ion and/or ozonegenerators selectively produce ions and/or ozone of different polarity.26. The hair setting assembly of claim 24, wherein said one or more ionand/or ozone generators provide a variety of voltage outputs.
 27. Thehair setting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base connected tosaid housing so that said housing can move on said base.
 28. The hairsetting assembly of claim 27, wherein said housing can be tilted aboutan axis of rotation that is an axis of the vertical extent of saidhousing.
 29. The hair setting assembly of claim 28, wherein said housingcan be tilted about said axis through a predetermined angle.
 30. Thehair setting assembly of claim 29, wherein said tilting action is suchthat a user can more easily access said one or more heatable rollers andconveniently manipulate the direction of emission of said emitted ionsand/or ozone.
 31. A hair setting assembly comprising: a housing forenclosing one or more heating elements, said one or more heatingelements supporting and heating one or more heatable hair rollers; oneor more ion and/or ozone emitters for emitting ions and/or ozone; a lidselectively covering said one or more heatable hair rollers and said oneor more ion emitters; and a base being connected to said housing, saidhousing being tiltable about an axis in at least one direction through aspecified angle.
 32. A hair setting assembly comprising: a housinghaving one or more first heating elements enclosed therein forcooperating with one or more heatable hair rollers; one or more ionand/or ozone emitters for emitting ions and/or ozone; and at least onesteam mechanism for generating steam, wherein said steam selectivelyreceives ions and/or ozone.
 33. An ionic hair setting assemblycomprising: a housing having one or more heating elements enclosedtherein; one or more heatable hair rollers cooperative with said one ormore heating elements, said one or more hair rollers having at least onethermally insulated end; and a temperature sensitive visual indicatorassociated with at least one of said one or more heatable hair rollers.34. A compact ionic hair setting assembly comprising: a compact housingfor holding one or more heatable hair rollers, said one or more heatablehair rollers having a temperature sensitive surface and at least onethermally insulated end, wherein said one or more heatable rollers areconditioned with negative ions.
 35. An ionic hair setting assemblycomprising: a housing having one or more heating elements enclosedtherein; one or more heatable hair rollers cooperative with said one ormore heating elements, said one or more heatable hair rollers having atemperature sensitive surface and at least one thermally insulated end;one or more ion and/or ozone emitters for emitting said ions and/orozone; and a temperature sensitive visual indicator associated with atleast one of said one or more heatable hair rollers.